As for the cost of oil changes, I'd recommend reading your "Jeep Welcome Kit" - mailed to you directly from DCX - VERY carefully. This is mailed out a month or so after your purchase, and includes a catalog of Jeep-branded merchandise such as shirts and ballcaps.

Got mine in the mail yesterday and almost pitched it, until I realized that the welcome letter included a coupon for a FREE oil and filter change.

As for the cost of oil changes, I'd recommend reading your "Jeep Welcome Kit" - mailed to you directly from DCX - VERY carefully. This is mailed out a month or so after your purchase, and includes a catalog of Jeep-branded merchandise such as shirts and ballcaps.

Got mine in the mail yesterday and almost pitched it, until I realized that the welcome letter included a coupon for a FREE oil and filter change.

Thanks for the heads-up on that one BuzzDog, I received that welcome kit but I don't remember a coupon.... I better check that again!

Wow, I'm glad this was posted. I am due for an oil change, and I doubt my dealership would know to use 5w-20. ...How would they know anyway?

Outside of it being in the Owners Manual I'm sure that the Dealers get tech info on this stuff. Mine was the first oil change that they did on a Compass in Albuquerque and they knew. They were Jeep and Chrysler only, not Dodge. The dealer that I go to now is Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge and it's the same as the Caliber that been out almost a year now.

The little local place that I mentioned earlier, my wife goes to. The last time she was in there they put in 5W20 in her '96 GC and we had to go back and they changed it to 10W40 because of low oil pressure. Their comment was that they do all of the newer stuff with 5W20 because all of the newer cars take it. We had to remind them that hers is 10 years old.

I do need to check out that mailing from DC on the freebie, good thing I never throw anything out. Thanks for the heads up

This is a comment about the Air Filtration System. According to my Owner's Manual, the Air Filtration System comes with the Security Group Option and is not tied to A/C System. That sounds a bit strange to me, so I'll talk to the dealer on my first oil change.

The one thing I did note was that when the Climate controls are set to Mix or Defrost, the A/C compressor is running in order to dry the air and defog the windshields. In effect, the A/C may be running even if you haven't hit the A/C button.

This is a comment about the Air Filtration System. According to my Owner's Manual, the Air Filtration System comes with the Security Group Option and is not tied to A/C System. That sounds a bit strange to me, so I'll talk to the dealer on my first oil change.

The one thing I did note was that when the Climate controls are set to Mix or Defrost, the A/C compressor is running in order to dry the air and defog the windshields. In effect, the A/C may be running even if you haven't hit the A/C button.

Fascinating! The air filtration tied to the Security Group would put it being like the Caliber. Makes sense from that stand point.

The info about the Climate Control settings using the A/C is good to know, I didn't realize that. I've certainly been running the defrost so maybe I will need to change it. Sure hope that the Service Manual gets here soon so that I can figure out where it is!!

The one thing I did note was that when the Climate controls are set to Mix or Defrost, the A/C compressor is running in order to dry the air and defog the windshields. In effect, the A/C may be running even if you haven't hit the A/C button.

That has been the norm for many years. I'd be surprised to hear of a vehicle without that feature.

$60!!!! Wow, that is a rediculous amount for an oil change. We just got our frist oil change last month at the dealer and it was only $26...i would have gone and got it for free at the original dealership but it's 45 miles away...you should really check with the service manager or better yet, call over the phone and ask how much an oil change for a compass would cost...ask for their name and that way you walk in with facts.

We've started stocking 5W-20 in bulk now, and carry 10W-30 in bottles. Just about everything takes 5W-20 now. The new world engines as they are called all take 5W-20 due to the variable valve timing and that there is a filter in the block that screens the oil down to 3 microns before it goes to the cylinder head. So regular oil changes are crucial to the engines' survival. That screen is not serviceable without removing the head. $60 is insane, for pete's sake Ford and Honda have been using 5-20 longer than DCX has.

We've started stocking 5W-20 in bulk now, and carry 10W-30 in bottles. Just about everything takes 5W-20 now. The new world engines as they are called all take 5W-20 due to the variable valve timing and that there is a filter in the block that screens the oil down to 3 microns before it goes to the cylinder head. So regular oil changes are crucial to the engines' survival. That screen is not serviceable without removing the head. $60 is insane, for pete's sake Ford and Honda have been using 5-20 longer than DCX has.

Thank you for your input, I felt that $60 was nuts but when they started talking about the screen in the engine I became unsure. Realizing that technology has changed since my previous (1991) truck was made, I didn't want to damage anything being "cheap".

I think I'll either use a more reasonable dealer or just pick up some OEM filters and some quality oil. Do you have any thoughts on Mobil1 or a similar synthetic for the compass engine. I would assume that it would be acceptable.

The light won't come on, but the compressor WILL run while in defrost mode.

The reason mentioned earlier - to dry the cabin air - is one reason, but it's also my understanding that this is done so that manufacturers have some assurance that the compressor will be run at some point during the winter.

Years ago, many compressors failed when owners turned on the a/c for the first time in the spring, since the compressor would sit for the entire cold weather season without having refrigerant run through it - and more importantly, the lubricating oil contained within the refrigerant. So the decision was made to have systems engage the compressor in defrost mode.

Thank you for your input, I felt that $60 was nuts but when they started talking about the screen in the engine I became unsure. Realizing that technology has changed since my previous (1991) truck was made, I didn't want to damage anything being "cheap".

I think I'll either use a more reasonable dealer or just pick up some OEM filters and some quality oil. Do you have any thoughts on Mobil1 or a similar synthetic for the compass engine. I would assume that it would be acceptable.

The light won't come on, but the compressor WILL run while in defrost mode.

The reason mentioned earlier - to dry the cabin air - is one reason, but it's also my understanding that this is done so that manufacturers have some assurance that the compressor will be run at some point during the winter.

Years ago, many compressors failed when owners turned on the a/c for the first time in the spring, since the compressor would sit for the entire cold weather season without having refrigerant run through it - and more importantly, the lubricating oil contained within the refrigerant. So the decision was made to have systems engage the compressor in defrost mode.

May just be an old mechanics tale, but it sure seems to make sense...

So the light doesn't come on for anyone else either? I checked this morning and mine definately does not.

My Tiburon light came on though. I think my girlfriend's Mazda3 does too.